Scholastic has put together a list of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids. Obviously lots of favorites are included, and it’s impossible to list all of the children’s books that have meaning for readers. The top ten:
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jacks Keats
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
No major surprises here, I’d say, although I’m surprised to see Frog and Toad in the top ten. I liked their stories growing up, but I wasn’t emotionally touched by them. And The Giver is only at #25, even though it’s one of the best books ever. That said, I am glad to see Tuck Everlasting so high at #16; I feel like usually it gets shuffled further down.
What are your thoughts on the list? Does it reflect the best of children’s lit?